Infekte der Atemwege zählen in der täglichen Praxis zu den häufigsten Gründen für
eine Arztkonsultation – insbesondere in den jetzt bevorstehenden Wintermonaten. Rund
ein Drittel der Atemwegsinfekte betreffen den unteren Respirationstrakt. Hierzu zählen
neben der der häufigsten Form, der akuten Bronchitis, auch die exazerbierte chronisch-obstruktive
Lungenerkrankung (COPD), die ambulant erworbene Pneumonie (CAP) und die Influenza.
Typische Symptome sind neben einem allgemeinen Krankheitsgefühl Fieber, Husten mit
oder ohne Auswurf, Dyspnoe sowie Kopf- und Gliederschmerzen. Im Alltag werden die
meisten Betroffenen antibiotisch behandelt, obwohl ein Effekt der Antibiotika nicht
in allen Fällen nachgewiesen ist. Während Patienten mit einer CAP immer eine leitliniengerechte
antibiotische Behandlung erhalten sollten, ist ein Nutzen bei der akuten Bronchitis
und einigen Formen der exazerbierten COPD nicht belegt, da sie meist nicht bakteriell
bedingt sind. Gerade in den Zeiten zunehmender Antibiotikaresistenzen ist die Vermeidung
von unnötigen Verordnungen jedoch dringlicher denn je.
Infections of the respiratory tract are one of the most common reasons for GP consultations,
especially in the oncoming winter season. Almost one third of these infections aff
ect the lower respiratory tract, comprising acute bronchitis, the most frequent form
of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (AE-COPD), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), and infl uenza. Common signs
and symp toms of LRTI include compromised general condition, fever, cough with or
without expectoration, dyspnea, headaches, and myalgia. In every day practice, most
patients receive antibiotic treatment, although an advantage of this treatment is
not proven in all cases. Whereas all patients with CAP should receive antibiotics
in accordance with recent guidelines, there is no indication for antibiotic treatment
in acute bronchitis and some cases of exacerbated COPD, because of their mostly non
bacterial origin. Especially in times of rising antibiotic resistances thoughtful
prescribing of antibiotics is needed more than ever.
Key words
lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) - acute bronchitis - acute exacerbation of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) - communityacquired pneumonia (CAP)
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1 Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
2 Confusion, Urea, Respiratory rate, Blood pressure
3 Kompetenznetz Ambulant Erworbene Pneumonie
Korrespondenz
Dr. med. Sebastian R. Ott
Inselspital Bern, Universitätsklinik für Pneumologie
CH-3010 Bern
Email: sebastian.ott@insel.ch